Mother and Daughter Kill 5 Family Members

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Amanda Mourelatos, Associate Editor-in-Chief

Shana, 45, and Dominique, 19, of the Decree family were charged with 5 counts of criminal homicide each and a count of conspiracy for their family members’ deaths on Tuesday, February 7th, 2019. Two days before, a social worker shows up to the home and nothing seemed abnormal. On the 6th, when they showed up again for a wellness check, there was no answer at the door; a maintenance worker called the police shortly after 4 p.m. on account of a criminal affidavit, or a written statement used as evidence in court. Found on Tuesday in their apartment was broken glass, furniture astray, and five dead bodies; three were children. Also in that room was the mother and daughter whom were alive, but “disoriented” on the bed; they were both taken to the hospital.

Image from New York Times

Shana Decree, the mother, mentioned that every member in the household spoke of suicide and wanted to die, including a 9 and 13-year-old. The family members killed include: her children Naa’Irah Smith, 25, and Damon Decree Jr., 13; her sister, Jamilla Campbell, 42; and Jamilla Campbell’s daughters,  Erika and Imani Allen, 9-year-old twins. Both mother and daughter had different alibis, but one thing was said by both: Jamilla Campbell aided in the killings, and then Dominique strangled and killed her.  At first, both women said they couldn’t recall what had happened. Shana then said Campbell’s boyfriend, along with 2 other men, entered the apartment and went through with the killings. Dominique said an unknown male gave her a neck injury and she “repeatedly advised her wish to die.” They both later confessed to having killed their family members.

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